I have a very old wooden chest that has "Macbean Calcutta" on the side. I googled the words and found your page..... Not sure what else to tell you. I can send pics soon

Hi Larry

First of all sorry for sending you lots of messages. The fact that youhave this chest just really brings up a lot off emotions. In thismessage I would like to explain you more about my research.3 years ago I started a trip to India with my father. He lived inIndia for 6 years and in this time of his life ( in his twenties) hetried to discover more of his roots. My grandfather is from India, hismom and dad are from India to. My grandfathers mother was calledPrescilla Macbean and was married to Charlie Lewis. That is why myfamily name is Lewis.

While making the trip to India I met Joyce Lewis who is the sister ofmy grandfather she gave me the Macbean family tree and that is why Imoved to Scotland. In Scotland I started a research about the nameMacbean. Basically I found a couple of historical documents and thelast one was from Samuel Macbean. He might be the person who emigratedfrom Scotland to India and married a Indian women with a western name:Alice Biggle. ( see family tree)The chest could have been his chest, he might have send that fromScotland to Calcutta with his belongings during his emigration.

I'm at the point where I'm stuck and decided a while ago that I wouldstop the research.Now that you have send me this picture I start to think that it is asign for me to go on.Again I'm really curious where you found this chest. Would it bepossible to write me as detailed as possible where you found thechest, what you are using it for and if anything was still in it.At the moment I'm studying and doing an Master in Fine Art Photographythe Macbean research is one of the main subjects I focus on.

Please understand that it is really important info and for all youreffort in emailing me and stuff I could send you a print of myphotography!

Hope you can respond,

Best Wishes

Sarojini Lewis

Re: hiWe bought the chest at a container shipment auction in Sulphur Springs Texas around 1998. It was empty except for the ten gold bars in the hidden compartment ( just kidding). Other than that I do not know much more. I will send more, and better pics when I have time. We are busy getting things purchased and ready for our BBQ restaurant to open next spring. I was always curious as to a Scottish name on a wooden chest labeled Calcutta (asuming India). You are more than welcome to use the pics

We used the chest for a coffee table in the living room until 2007 or so. At the present time it is being used as a storage for photograpghs and memory books and things (ironic we have photos in it and your study is photograpghy). I put a few layers of paint on it and removed some to add character to the piece. I have sine removed 90% of the paint. There are two key holes on the front but the locking mechanisms are gone.